We’ve all been there before: you’re peacefully sitting at home, only to find yourself interrupted every minute alarm by an electronic chirping sound. Eventually you figure out that it’s your smoke alarm. If this is you, your fire alarm is trying to tell you something. The worst thing you could do is ignore it. Today, we’ll review what causes smoke alarm chirping — and what you can do about it!
Your smoke alarm chirping is trying to tell you something. Don’t ignore it!
Batteries
More often than note, smoke alarm chirping results from an issue with the batteries. Typically, smoke alarms will chirp as a way to let you know that their battery is dead or dying. When you hear your smoke alarm beep, replacing the battery should be your first course of action.
But there are other reasons your smoke alarm might chirp that still have to do with the battery. The battery needs to be tightly secured within the smoke detector. It may have come loose over time. If you live in an apartment, this could happen just from footfalls overhead.
If your smoke alarm isn’t tightly holding its batteries anymore, avoid using tape to keep them in place. At this point, it’s better just to buy new detectors.
Dirty Chamber
If adjusting or replacing the battery didn’t work, your next suspect should be the chamber. On occasion, smoke alarm chirping can result when your detector is trying to let you know that is chamber needs to be cleaned.
If you suspect this to be the case with your smoke detector, compressed air is your friend. Blow the air through whatever openings there are on the outside of your smoke alarm. Wipe down the surface with a lightly moistened cloth as well.
Moisture
Once you’ve determined that your smoke alarm chirping isn’t because of the batteries or a dirty chamber, environmental factors are the prime suspect. While issues such as too much air flow or extreme temperatures can cause your smoke detector to chirp, the usual suspect is moisture.
Excess moisture in your home isn’t generally much of an issue in the winter, but you shouldn’t rule it out. This is especially true if you have smoke alarms in or near your bathroom or kitchen. They might chirp due to increased humidity from your shower or even an uncovered pot.
It’s no secret that our area experiences some extreme humidity in the summer. Don’t be surprised if this causes your smoke alarms to chirp. Dehumidifiers can do the trick.
If none of what we’ve shared today helps you get to the bottom of why your smoke alarm is chirping, your best course of action is simply to replace it. Smoke detectors are a crucial component of residential fire safety, so do this as soon as you can!
Commercial and Residential Fire Prevention from Judd Fire Protection
If you want to ensure your home and business are safe throughout the year, trust Judd Fire Protection, LLC. We have over two decades of experience designing, installing, inspecting, and repairing residential and commercial fire protection systems. We serve clients throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., Virginia, and West Virginia. If you are interested in finding out more about our services and protecting your home and business, give us a call at 410-871-3480 or contact us online. For more fire safety tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.